In class today, our instructor informed us that we would be required to give one another bed baths as part of the course. The majority of the class are females, and we also have a few men. We were told the men would work with the men, the women with the women.
Basically, we'd be required to bring a bathing suit to class, change and be (I hate to use the term this way) forced to recieve a bed bath. For many of us, this doesn't exactly sit well. I understand the experience is to give us a sense of empathy and compassion for patients, but for me personally, this is going a bit over the line and even though this is coming around in a few weeks, I'm already feeling extremely violated
We were also informed that if we refused, we would be kicked out of the program. Also, many of us don't even own bathing suits - as we were discussing it on break, about 70% of us don't even own one; we brought this up to our instructor and were told that if we didn't own one, we'd have to do it in our bras and underwear. Personally, this is really overwhelming for me.
Now, mind you, I do not have anything against giving a bath or bed bath to an individual - I worked in a NYS ARC for a period of time and that was part of my job as a direct support professional.
My issues with this are extremely personal - its not about stretch marks from pregnancy or weight gain like many of the other women had mentioned; I have some severe scarring from being a victim of abuse years ago. Its not something I wish to flaunt or have to explain to people. Even going to the doctor's office, I have a very difficult time undressing and more often than not, I keep my clothing on.
I read a previous post from 2008 on the subject - how many LPN students had to go through the same procedures, but there were also alternatives - dry baths, with students fully clothed, etc (I could deal with that).
I don't want to lose this oppertunity because of this (once again, refusal = dismissal from the program).
In CNA class and LPN school we did things only fully clothed. We used each other to give fake bed baths, make occupied beds, Vanderlifts, etc. I would never even have participated in something making me wear a tank top or shorts. That's my right. Obviously if I feel this way (about being forced to allow someone to touch me when I don't have much clothes on) I can empathize with someone who's embarrassed about having a bed bath. I've also had Pap Smears and breast examinations so I don't need to allow someone in school to do it on me to understand what it feels like.
In RN we have been only using manikins.
Last year there was a guy I had gone to high school with (I was 26 or 27) and he asked me not to be around when he needed help going to the bathroom or showering. If he gets that right, why wouldn't I?
Not all programs require students to be CNA's. I teach in a large ADN program in a Metropolitan area. While several of our students are CNA's, it is not required. SEVERAL/MOST university based programs do not require a CNA certificate, so it's certainly not redundant if one has never done it, ya know?
I get people's point. If everyone could just realize that a) everyone has a point of view and b) be respectful of other's points of view...THAT is the adult and professional thing to do. Mannequins serve a purpose. But doing your first bath on a fragile, ill/ailing person when you've never bathed anyone but yourself can be a horrifying experience for someone new to healthcare. This is why doing it on a presumably healthy adult is/can be a useful experience, albeit not perfect for many of the reasons pointed out in this thread.
Just my 2 cents.
Nursing faculty
Chicago, IL
Sorry, I didn't realize. I wonder why having a CNA isn't required? I'd think that having gone through a CNA course would give students an idea of what nurses do and what goes on in health care facilities as well as lessen the course load. Most people - even people who think they want to be a nurse - have no idea what nurses deal with. Just my opinion though.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I think some programs want people to go to CNA class ahead of time, and some students choose to do it because they think it would serve the purpose of them learning as well as working if they need to have a job while going to school, but most of them don't. Perhaps because they feel the majority of the time the nurse will not be performing those tasks on the job. Nursing education is a lot more separated into "nurse tasks" and "CNA tasks" than it used to be.
I think all nurses should learn to do them passably well at least, though. There are times when you need to know something as "simple" as cleaning up a patient, or reposition them, because if you do it wrong, you can absolutely harm them. I remember once working in home health with an RN who needed me to help her hold her patient in position so she could clean her patient's bottom (2 people in the home had nsg care) she repeatedly dunked poopy wipes back in to the basin of clean water, used a back and forth motion with the poop covered cloth, and wiped from the anal area toward the urethra. She was rough over the skin and tried to apply her various wound care treatments on wet skin. When she was done I went back to my patient, and a little while later she asked me to help again because the lady, who was heavy and immobile had her shoulders way up and crooked hips and very agitated saying "I feel like a sack of potatoes".
I just mention this as an illustration of how important it is for all nurses to learn these "CNA tasks" at least the basics! But I still don't believe it should be mandatory to give bedbaths to classmates.
I was told the same in my LPN course and it never happened, we had manaquins in hosp beds in our clinical room also that is why we had to give so many bedbaths at our nursing home clinicals You know if you really want to be a nurse just do it. I have almost identical feelings and possibly suffered more scars and abuse from my x spouse ....i would have agreed and delt with it but it never came to fruition.... so please do not let 3 minutes of discomfort cause you to not become a nurse and if you speak with your instr. you will be labeling yourself as not nurse material.... close your eyes and get it over with toughen up you can do this if this is the worse thing to happen in life youre getting off easy. Its only the body Heck my sisters husb had ARDS in the MICU I helped clean emmena and cath change its just skin stop looking for reasons to get around this i can assure you nobody else is looking forward to it either.....but a real future nurse would shut up and stop complaining it not all that
I would be careful about approaching your instructor as a group... sometimes this can make them feel attacked... if your going to approach her, do it in an organized and PROFESSIONAL way. One person be the speaker of the group. Everyone else needs to be quiet. Get a group together and someone write down everyone's objections, so that everyone has a voice, and only ONE person speaks. Be very careful approaching an instructor, especially as a group... you may find serious reprocussions in clinicals when you go as a result of complaining about the instructor.... I know it's not fair, but that's just how it is. Handle this situation with caution. That's my adivice. And good luck.
In my program we did not have to do bedbaths, but if we did we would leave our clothes on and pretend. I think that is crazy that you have to do that. Ugh!
We pretended too in my CNA classes. We stayed clothed but went through the motions
Oh, forgive me, we have to go to mambypamby land because some whimp a++ RN nursing student is embarassed to have her/his lab partner see their skin. What's the difference, in class with a drape, or at the bar room with a skimpy T shirt dress and no undies?
You are by far the most inconsiderate poster on here! I feel sorry for your patients!
I was told the same in my LPN course and it never happened, we had manaquins in hosp beds in our clinical room also that is why we had to give so many bedbaths at our nursing home clinicals You know if you really want to be a nurse just do it. I have almost identical feelings and possibly suffered more scars and abuse from my x spouse ....i would have agreed and delt with it but it never came to fruition.... so please do not let 3 minutes of discomfort cause you to not become a nurse and if you speak with your instr. you will be labeling yourself as not nurse material.... close your eyes and get it over with toughen up you can do this if this is the worse thing to happen in life youre getting off easy. Its only the body Heck my sisters husb had ARDS in the MICU I helped clean emmena and cath change its just skin stop looking for reasons to get around this i can assure you nobody else is looking forward to it either.....but a real future nurse would shut up and stop complaining it not all that
1) This is not about YOU. 2) The comments you made were uncalled for. 3) There is absolutely NO reason a nursing student should be forced to undress and be touched by a classmate.
My class was also told that we were required to this. I believe the main point is to step into the shoes of the patientso you know how it feels to have this invasive procedure performed on you. I agree with others that you should dicuss this with your instructor but I think the rest of your class is over-reacting.
we had to give bed baths for our class, we wore t-shirts and shorts. The point was so you under stand what its like to be completely helpless. We also had to brush each others teeth. And i just gave my first bed bath to a patient in my geriatrics clinical rotation and im so thankful i had that experience to compare to. And while everyone is different, i am someone who comes from a background of sexual assault and abuse. I have my own issues, and was able to over come them. Speak to your instructor, if you have had something personal, or even if your religion prohibits it they will make the special accommodations, because it truly is a learning experience. And they wont black mark you as someone who is not nursing material.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I was told the same in my LPN course and it never happened, we had manaquins in hosp beds in our clinical room also that is why we had to give so many bedbaths at our nursing home clinicals You know if you really want to be a nurse just do it. I have almost identical feelings and possibly suffered more scars and abuse from my x spouse ....i would have agreed and delt with it but it never came to fruition....
So you know you have identical feelings that someone you've never met has? You never had to know how you would have felt because you didn't have to do it-- and you're telling other people they should put themselves through that because you would have??
so please do not let 3 minutes of discomfort cause you to not become a nurse and if you speak with your instr. you will be labeling yourself as not nurse material....
That is a very dangerous attitude to take. The bed bath issue really has nothing to do with how good a nurse you will ultimately become and if a school thinks that not wanting to be bathed by a classmate means "you aren't nurse material" I would be having serious doubts about continuing in their program. It sounds horrible.
close your eyes and get it over with toughen up you can do this if this is the worse thing to happen in life youre getting off easy. Its only the body
Close your eyes and get it over with? It's only the body? Wow. That phrase alone sounds creepy and I've never been a victim of abuse.
i can assure you nobody else is looking forward to it either.....but a real future nurse would shut up and stop complaining it not all that
That attitude leads to exploitation. Obviously a student should not spend her time in school objecting and complaining about things but the issue is not about patients it is about the students and to me it's appalling how callous some people are. I've been in nursing a long time, too. I see no advantage to this over the long run, especially since it is so distressing to some people. I never gave a shot to an orange, a chicken breast, or a classmate. After the first week giving shots you will have erased whatever advantage you had by coercing and threatening students into doing things that causes them distress.
DizzyLizzyNurse
1,024 Posts
In CNA class and LPN school we did things only fully clothed. We used each other to give fake bed baths, make occupied beds, Vanderlifts, etc. I would never even have participated in something making me wear a tank top or shorts. That's my right. Obviously if I feel this way (about being forced to allow someone to touch me when I don't have much clothes on) I can empathize with someone who's embarrassed about having a bed bath. I've also had Pap Smears and breast examinations so I don't need to allow someone in school to do it on me to understand what it feels like.
In RN we have been only using manikins.
Last year there was a guy I had gone to high school with (I was 26 or 27) and he asked me not to be around when he needed help going to the bathroom or showering. If he gets that right, why wouldn't I?